Popular reviews

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  Review by Sean Baker 8

  Wow. This is an insane one. Has a Mystery Train/Pulp Fiction non-linear story structure that results in fun reveals. But be warned... about as dark as a black comedy can get.

  Impressive debut. Looking forward to seeing Ryan Prows's short Narcocorrido and what he does next.

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  Review by Aukai Ligairi ★★★ 2

  This totally messed-up movie that deals with human sex trafficking, organ theft, hard drugs, organized crime and corrupt cops somehow manages to pull a few heartstrings by the end. Lowlife seems to suffer from budget and casting constraints at the beginning—and you'd like to see a story this good have a little more technical polish—but things really pick up by the midpoint and Lowlife wins you over, even as it pushes you away. The inclusion of Ricardo Zarate's enforcer character (with a luchador mask and legacy to protect) and Jon Oswald's ex-con character (a non-racist with a full-face swastika tattoo) were highlights for me and leant both laughs and tremendous heart to an otherwise grimy film. Though an inexact and…

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  Review by Bob McQueen ★★★★★

  Hell Yeah!! Absolute banger!! Super dark comedy crime story with a luchadore lead! Fantastic score! Scuzzy and violent!! Loved it!!

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  Review by Freyr ★★★★½ 2

  A powerhouse feature length debut for director and co-writer Ryan Prows. A Pulp Fiction-esque anthology of interlocking stories presents a cast of deeply flawed characters, destroying the lives of those around them as they collide together in their own quests for redemption. Each member of the cast brings depth to their character, making each stand out without drawing away from the ensemble (though arguably Ricardo Adam Zarate stands out with his surreal, larger than life performance as a disgraced luchador turned hired muscle).

  The script finds moments to be both funny and devastating in its presentation of how drugs and crime have torn people and families apart, and set them on a path of self destruction. The grand finale, bringing all of these characters and tales together, ties all the plots up satisfyingly, both with tragedy and the hope for a better future. It's a rich and original set of tales that shouldn't be overlooked.

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  Review by ELECTRICWIZARDx ★★★½

  Absurdity and depravity embraced in the trenches of LA as a barrage of chaos-and-death artillery rains down from above.

  Lives and moralities entwined in rat king formation and dragged kicking and screaming through the guts of the underworld.

  Luchador face smashing and sex slave organ harvesting. Heroin, poverty and medical emergencies. Suicide and swastika full-face tattoos. A comedy of bleakness played bullet trajectory straight. Assumptions and obvious outcomes savaged by transgressions so thoroughly that who the fuck knows what's meant to go where anymore?

  Great debut.

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  Review by Drew Clark ★★★★

  This film is a joke. I don’t mean that as an insult. I mean this movie is like an extremely long and intricate story that a buddy would share with you, and you know, eventually, there’s a massive climax of a punchline coming at the end. 

  Really enjoyed this one and it seems it went massively under the radar.

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  Review by Madeleine ★★★★½ 3

  The first time I saw this film, it was an explosion. Prime spot, world premiere at the Fantasia film fest, packed Concordia university theater. The crowd freaked out like a wild animal. No budget daringness — bombastic, clever, and grotesque. 

  Watching it again tonight in a half full microcinema, I realized how challenging and potentially offensive Lowlife is. It’s a different beast in a small room where you can hear everybody breathing. And man do I love it. 

  This movie is dark as fuck. It’s a sadistic type of humor, getting off on making you laugh at something awful while someone else in the room is grimacing. But somehow within that button pushing that I’m sure will irritate certain viewers, there’s…

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  Review by JayLee248 ★★★½

  Lowlife is the type of indie filmmaking I love. This doesn’t overstay its welcome with a extremely long runtime or doesn’t waste your time in getting to know the characters. It honestly kinda reminded me of early Tarantino with the format of different subplots that all come together. It’s directing is fluent doesn’t come off as doing too much. Everyone’s acting completely matches each other with not a single weak link in sight. 

  Lowlife is solid indie crime flick that doesn’t ask that much of you. You’re introduced to a bunch of diverse characters that all just trying not figure out what’s going on. Ryan Prows is definitely on my radar after this.

  First Watches in 2023 Ranked

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  Review by Zay ★★★½

  A disgraced luchador, a white guy with a swastika tattooed on his face, a pregnant lady, and a few others lives converge while trying to get out from under the slimy paws of a local crime boss whose interests include organ harvesting among other things.

  Great first film from director Ryan Prows. Has that Tarantino type of vibe with all the interwoven storylines and gritty characters. Bloody and fast paced.

  7 out of 10

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  Review by Helen_S ★★★★

  I was really impressed with this directorial debut. It started off almost like a horror, then it went into bonkers Crimson Executioner type crazy that I thought it was gonna stick with. But no, for the majority it had the fab feel of a really great 90s crime flick. Loved how it all played out, seeing the day from different perspectives all leading upto a fab finale. Some really gruesome images in this too. Ryan Prows is definitely one to look out for.

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  Review by cherryz ★★★½ 1

  Day 19, Augusts Horror Scavenger Hunt. Watch a movie with a wrestler in it.

  Pulled through the pit of hell and back when a group of people find themselves in Teddy's web of organ theft and sex trafficking.

  These individuals have sunk low, and the way they band together is quite something. Gives you hope that Evil will be overcome. I for one was cheering each hit to the face El Monstrou pounded at the end.

  Cherryz yelling 'TAKE HIM DOWN'

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  Review by Noah DiVincenzo ★★★★

  There was 666 reviews before I began mine here for the 667th… yikes.

  Any who, what a neat find! Definitely recommend- out of the ordinary, over the top humor and gore , & an out of place story that comes together in the end in a funny way. Wild in so many aspects , very entertaining. There’s also a simplicity to the story itself at first glance or some sort of nonsense going into it but it all works and it’s uncanny , bizarre , psycho plot was fun as hell.